Monday, December 21, 2015
Alzheimer Society of Perth County
Alzheimer Societies receieve $385,400 OTF Grant for Minds in Motion® program
Three Alzheimer Societies in Southwestern Ontario will share a $385,400 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow Grant for the innovative Minds in Motion® Program that was introduced in Ontario two years ago. Minds in Motion® is a two-hour, eight week community-based program for people with dementia and their care partners that combines physical activity and mental stimulation.
“Minds in Motion is making life better for many in our communities," said Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece. "I am very pleased that Trillium has recognized its value, and I want to congratulate the Alzheimer Society of Perth County for offering such a successful program."
The Alzheimer Societies of Grey-Bruce, Huron, and Perth were among six societies in Ontario that offered the program in 2014 and 2015 as a pilot project. Following the success of the pilot, the three societies partnered to seek Ontario Trillium Foundation funding to continue offering the program for the next three years.
“We are thrilled that we will continue to be able to offer this program for the next three years,” said Debbie Deichert, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Perth County. “Early on in the pilot program we saw the value of Minds in Motion® for person’s with dementia and for their care partners.”
People with dementia are often excluded from mainstream recreational programs due to cognitive deficits or potential need for support. This exclusion contributes to social isolation and decreased activity and compromises health and wellbeing. The program offers gentle and easy to follow physical activities and fun social activities focused on building personal connections. This program has been shown to break down leisure barriers and increases social participation outside of the program.
“Evidence from the pilot projects shows that participation in Minds in Motion® decreases social isolation and improves physical and emotional wellbeing,” Deichert said. “Care partners who participate may also reduce their risk of isolation.”
During the two-year pilot, Minds in Motion® programs were offered in Owen Sound, Hanover, Stratford, Listowel, Clinton, Goderich, Grand Bend and Wingham, and 157 participants were involved in 2015. The Ontario Trillium Foundation funding will allow the three Societies to increase the number of programs to a total of 27 eight-week sessions each year and the goal is to involve 1,044 individuals over the three years.
“The pilot projects were offered in collaboration with community partners, including, in Perth County, The Stratford YMCA, VON in Listowel and the Friendship Centre in St. Marys. Our plan is to continue to offer sessions in each of these communities and to expand to offer this program in a yet to be determined location in 2016”, Deichert said.
The three Societies will continue to work together to ensure consistent standards for the program.
“We will continue to build and enhance our partnerships to deliver accessible programming within our communities and ensure all staff and volunteers delivering the program are trained in dementia education,” Deichert said.
The key goals of the program during that time:
- Enabling the person with dementia to get involved in community life
- Promoting healthy lifestyle changes for both the person with dementia and their care partner to prove quality of life
- Increasing inclusiveness to create dementia friendly communities through education and awareness.
- Minds in Motion will become a mainstream, self-sustained program based on local collaboration and education supported by trained and skilled volunteers.
For more information about Minds in Motion® and to get involved in the program visit www.alzheimer.ca/perth.
The leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF helps build healthy and vibrant communities. For more information, please visit www.otf.ca.
Media Contact:
Debbie Deichert, Executive Director
Alzheimer Society Perth County
519-271-1910 or 1-888-797-1882
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